from ALA

My apologies for the late post, I was having trouble getting my computer to cooperate. For any of you who have not come to ALA, the mood here at annual has been quite upbeat. The standard explanation is that it has been so hot in DC that no one wants to be anywhere except in the air conditioned convention. Perhaps, but even if the weather plays a part, the mood — despire budgets, job losses, Texas school board, has been very upbeat.

In a way that mood was reflected at the Sibert ceremony today — the 10th annivesary of the award, and the committee spoke about how many fine choices they had last year. And the day before, the new YALSA NF award committee, which gave out its first awards this year, said the same. So again, despite databases, textbooks, price pressure — the mood about nonfiction is quite positive.

Moods can be fleeting, deceptive, misleading — but I take this one as encouraging. Librarians are excited about what they are doing, NF is visible and spreading in interesting new directions. At least now, with all of us together, the future is in our hands.